Take The Plunge

A Virtual Reality (VR) Falling Simulation
Role

Modeler, Texture, Animator, Programmer, Videographer, Editor.

Tools

Canon DSLR Camera, Autodesk Maya, Adobe Premiere Pro, Unity 3D.

I worked alongside two team members for this project. Here is a link the project's Final Report

Take the Plunge is a falling simulation that takes place in a desert environment. This simulator hopes to recreate the adrenaline rush associated with highrisk activity in a low risk setting. The environment is composed of 4 towers and jumping off the edge of one tower will bring you to another via fadetoblack teleportaion. Each tower is a unique design that can be explored with a check point to activate. Activating the checkpoint causes the tower to be illuminated in a coloured light. When all towers have been explored, users have completed our simulation.

Process

I provided the textured 3D models for all the towers present in the environment. Each tower contains an animated checkpoint. I researched visually interesting building and towers in real life and recreated them in Maya. In addition, each tower’s checkpoint takes the form of a cube which are animated. During the final compiling stages, I was responsible for adjusting materials and animations in Maya, exporting each tower as FBX objects, and scripting the Exit scene’s sunset and moving stars.

Positioning 3D buildings in Unity 3D
Fig.1 Positioning 3D buildings in Unity 3D.
Positioning 3D buildings in Unity 3D
Fig.2 Positioning 3D buildings in Unity 3D.
Positioning 3D buildings in Unity 3D
Fig.3 Positioning 3D buildings in Unity 3D.
Positioning 3D buildings in Unity 3D
Fig.4 Positioning 3D buildings in Unity 3D.

I also provided support in searching for additional 3D assets and audio tracks to add to our environment. During the VR Showcase on April 14th, 2016 I manned the camera and recorded footage of the event at the Take the Plunge booth. Following the showcase, I edited all available footage into a comprehensive video summary of our project.